WILTON, Maine - Larry Allen Lethem died peacefully and comfortably, December 22, 2025, at Sandy River Center in Farmington, Maine. He was born November 1, 1946, in Phoenix, Arizona to Dale Edwin Lethem and Thelma Catherine Quint Lethem. Larry lived his early years along with his elder sister Laura in Hays, Kansas where his parents had grown up. His mother having died when Larry was seven, he became a 'California' boy in Inglewood outside of LA. In Larry's middle school age, he joined the Calvary Assembly of God church. He was strongly influenced there and loved playing bass as part of their music group. He often would chuckle when sharing that he went to high school with the Beach Boys at Hawthorne High School. It is true. They attended in the same years. Following graduation from Hawthorne High School in 1964, Larry spent the year in trade school earning award/certificate in diesel mechanics. It served him well when he signed up with the U.S. Navy in 1966, going straight to Vietnam for 3 tours. Larry was honorably discharged in 1970. He loved his prized possession of an antique Morris Minor car. He always felt he was an excellent driver, family would say not! Within a year, he lost control driving that special car, left the road and flipped. Larry was fine, but the car was not. The end. On September 27, 1975, Larry married Sandra Duke Peterson in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Together Larry and Sandy raised her two sons Scott and Trevor in Albuquerque. After Larry married Sandy, he pursued his college education attending University of New Mexico. With much support from Sandy, he earned his master's degree. As a Special Ed teacher in the New Mexico public schools, he loved his work with middle school students in Albuquerque. Larry took classes in an exciting art form that included Japanese drumming known as Taiko. One requirement was that each student had to make their own drum. Larry's was a work of art in itself. From www.bstaiko.com "Taiko is a blend of martial arts choreography and synchronized drumming. Taiko simply means "great drum" in Japanese and has taken on the meaning of the art form". He loved that period of his life. The family spent a lot of time in the deserts outside of ABQ, especially with their 4-wheel drive Toyota. As their sons grew older, they all spent wonderful vacations traveling to beaches at Texas' Port Aransas. They loved birdwatching. There, Larry picked up the art of flying the big kites over the beaches. Retiring from APS-ABQ public schools in 2011, he and Sandy bought an Airstream trailer and a truck to pull the trailer. North Texas Airstream Community (NTAC) in Hillsboro, TX gave new Airstream customers a complimentary camping certificate. On their maiden trip the Lethem's stopped in to spend a night at NTAC. Although they were enroute to Port Aransas, they cut the trip short. They saw a wonderful place to live at NTAC. They immediately bought a membership. They liked the home layouts including trailer port covers, the community, activities and made it their retirement home. Sadly, Sandy enjoyed just two brief years at NTAC, passing away February 9, 2013. Later, Larry became better acquainted with another member of the NTAC community Cynthia (McIntire) Johnson. After she experienced a family tragedy, he approached her one day offering to be her friend, someone to talk with if needed. Three years later on April 25, 2019, they traveled in their Airstream and married in Corpus Christi, TX. Larry and Cindy continued their joint love of the Airstream traveling life. They traveled many miles west, north and northeast to visit their families. In Larry's last year of life, he and Cindy moved from Texas to Maine to be closer to Cindy's family. Following a prolonged illness he died December 22, 2025, at Sandy River Center in Farmington, ME. Larry is survived by his big sister, Laura Ann (Lethem) Kayser of Mountanair, NM., who watched over her motherless brother right up until his death. They shared many stories of their exploits over the years. Others surviving him are four stepchildren, Scott (Julie) Peterson of Dallas, TX, Trevor (Connie) Peterson of Colorado Springs, CO, Erik (Trudy) Johnson of Farmington, ME and Elizabeth (Jon) VanKirk of Freeland, MI. He leaves three grandchildren, Finley Peterson of Dallas, TX, Erika Johnson and Mariah Johnson both of Farmington, ME. Beloved as well by his in-law family of Weld, ME are Evan (Maria) McIntire, Nancy (Bob) Dionne and Naomi (Richard) Doughty. There will be no services at this time. Arrangements are under the care of Dan and Scott's Cremation and Funeral Service, 488 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington, Maine, where memories, photos and condolences may be shared at dsfuneral.com.